Marking media using notches

Abstract

A print medium with encoded data and a print media detection system for use in detecting at least one characteristic of the sheet of print medium based on the encoded data are disclosed. The encoded data is designed to minimize its visual perceptibility. The print media detector is designed to recognize various characteristics of print media based upon the encoded data and transmit information regarding these characteristics to a printing device so that one or more operating parameters of the printing device can be adjusted to help optimize print quality for the particular characteristics of a particular print medium. A printing device including the print medium and print media detection system is also disclosed. A method of detecting one or more characteristics of print media used in a printing device is additionally disclosed. Further characteristics and features of the print medium, print media detection system, printing device, and method are described herein, as are examples of various alternative embodiments.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of marking a stack of print media sheets comprising the step of forming in the stack notches that are sized to be visually imperceptible, the notches being on at least one side of the stack so that all sheets of the stack are identically notched. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  including the step of forming at least two notches on the one side such that the space between the two notches corresponds to a characteristic of the print media of the stack. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein the depth of the notches is less than about 0.004 inches. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  including the step of forming the notches to have a semi-circular shape. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4  wherein the depth of the notches is less than about 0.004 inches so as to be unnoticed visually by an observer. 
     
     
       6. A method of marking a stack of print media sheets comprising the steps of: 
       forming in the stack visually imperceptible notches on at least one side of the stack so that all sheets of the stack are identically notched; and  
       forming each of the notches to have a shape that matches one of the shapes of a group of at least two predetermined shapes, each said predetermined shape corresponding to a different characteristic of the stack of print media shapes.  
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6  wherein the depth of the notches is less than about 0.004 inches.